Cutting Ball Screws?

I'm planning on making a ball screw cross slide for CNC lathe attachment.
If the ball screws are machinable, I would like to turn down and thread an

end for the bearing mounting block. If they're not machinable, I can make a
steel shaft and attach it to the ball screw. Just wondering if anyone
here's turned ball screws and had any tooling recommendations or other
advise.
Thanks!
RogerN

I've not turned ball screws, but have worked on CNC equipment where the ball
screws were turned to fit bearing blocks.
I have, though, turned Acme stock to fit bearings. Except, perhaps, for the
diameter, and the fact that the 'average' ball screw won't pass through my
lathe head bore, I wouldn't think it would be too awfully challenging.
Most ball screw stock is hardened -- at least case-hardened. You might need
carbide tooling.
LLoyd

Ive turned the ends of ball screws. Hard shit. I cut em down to size
using an abrasive saw. Turned the ends with plenty of oil and carbide
tooling. OD grinding is better. Though you can anneal the ends you
need to turn with a torch oft times.
Shrug
Gunner
Rule #35
"That which does not kill you,
has made a huge tactical error"

You probably want indexable carbide tooling to cut the stuff. It
is pretty hard, but carbide will cut it. You might eat one point
getting below the extreme hardening on the very surface, then you
can index the point and cut the rest of the way. Finish with a
tool-post grinder.
The other option is to anneal the ends with a torch, which will
usually make it a lot easier to turn.
Jon

I just got done reading this site a few days ago:
http://www.5bears.com/cnc16.htm
That page the author talks about cutting and turning down the ends of a
ballscrew.
Seems like it wasn't TOO bad and he managed a really nice press fit on
the bearing.

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